Google has announced plans for a new mobile phone, one that will certainly lock horns with the iPhone and other smartphones upon commercial release. New gadgets always generate public relations buzz, but the bigger issue at stake here is the phone’s likely impact on the net neutrality issues debate and how regulators ultimately react.
Network neutrality, or “net neutrality” as labeled in policy circles, is a leading issues debate about consumer and corporate access to electronic data traffic networks, and to what degree network providers can play traffic cop legally in this arena. The issues debate intersects aggressive politics, instant communications, future technology and large corporations. Oh, and billions and billions of dollars are at stake.
In one way, the Google phone is a piece in a very interesting chess game. If Google’s phone can be used on any mobile phone network, then wireless companies must decide whether to allow their customers to operate the phone on their network. If a company blocks the phone, then net neutrality enters the fray.
In any issues debate like net neutrality, the winner is usually whoever defines the terms of the debate earliest. The Google phone’s potential introduction plan allows the company to do just that, with the wireless companies stuck constantly responding.
Fortunately for the AT&T’s and Verizon’s of the world, they still have time to adjust their practices and generate stronger customer loyalty and market share – and hence more support for their net neutrality stance – and thus avoid being caught off guard. In public relations and issues debates, always remember: the worst place on the chess board is in the corner, with limited message options.
[...] Net Neutrality. The debate on who controls the Internet’s pipelines will develop at a brisk pace, given that billions and [...]